1951-05-12 — Page 3

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THE CHINA. MAIL, SATURDAY, MAY 12, 1951. {

BIG TOP' IN MINIATURE

SIDE SHOW!

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The "Human Volcano" is touched up by William Brinfoy on the lighted midway of his circus model, which took him 24 yours to build. The attractions were carefully selected after checking those most often seen in the Big Tops travelling in America.

The Toy Bandwagon. Carved by a Nine-Year-Old Youngster

Has Now Grown into a $100,000 Pint-Sized Model Circus

"ANY young boys, at one tine or another,

M probably have wished they could

Jun

away from home and Join the circus. William R. Brinley of Meriden, Conn., was one of those boys. At the age of nine, however, young William made his big decision. Instead of leaving hume for the circus, he would bring the Big Top into his own parlour. The youngster found him- 'self a piece of wood and began whitling.

Twenty-four years later, Brinley, now 33, has quit his Job us shipping clerk to ssume a full- time career as ercator and showman. Bis circus ---in miniature-now has more than 600,000 separate parts, including 163 enimals, 40 wagons, 15 tents. 80 performers and countless back. stage workers. Sawdust on the floor and electric

lights lend an air of realism to the display.

The model is built on a scale of three-quarters of an inch to a fool, from cookhouse to side show, from ent-eater to elephuni, On the road, all sections fold up for packing into wagons, which are loaded on 10 falcars of a miniature railroad, brightly painted.

The lilliputian circus covers about 400 square feet. When Brinley takes it on the road, he and two assistants spend an entire day taking it down and two days setting it up on arrival.

But the man who whittled year after year- never has forgotten the little boy's dream. Pro- ceeds of a coast-to-coast tour Brinley is making with his $100,000 show will be banked towards the day when he can buy a real live circus.

CIRCUS

THE LATEST addition to Brinley's, circus is painted after months of carving. It is of white pine. First wagon was made from cheese box.

THE CIRCUS tents are made of dino canvas, 'all hand-sewn. Brinley is known working on bào show. Arena. In the far background Ja the Algalog,

the trat where enimals are stebird,

A LITTLE FELLOW là masina parāda to electrically

THE RAIL CARS have all of the special equipment found on regular circus trains. Little roustabout and elephants show how real shows aro unloaded..“